Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Saturday Arts Tour

On Saturday I went to Bellows Falls for a tour of some art studios. I forgot to take pictures of the studios, really I don't like to ask. But took a few shots of Bellows Falls. This old station is still active.

The canal that flows into and out of the Connecticut River. One artist I met collects driftwood that gathers at the bottom of a close by waterfall and makes sculptures out of it. She lives in New York city and only comes here once in awhile to collect wood. A newspaper reporter was talking with her when I entered her studio and he wrote down my name and a quote from me.

Another view of the canal which has many bridges over it, most of them not used anymore. I also saw some lovely charcoal drawings by an artist whose work I have seen before. The small ones were $250. I was tempted, but resisted.

Another train station building. In a large warehouse used for the Great River Arts Institute classes and also used by a glassblower I saw pottery, portraits and abstract paintings on display.

I stopped in a cafe for a panini and snapped this view across the street. He put too much hot mustard on the panini so I only ate half the sandwich.

There is a building in which artists can live and work in this block. There I saw a jewelers studio. She makes incredible jewelry based on ocean creatures. These are hugely labor intensive and sell for megabucks. She explained so beautifully her process and loved talking about her work.

PS to anyone who might wonder if I could live in the artists residence, I think my asset level would bar me. You have to apply, I think it is subsidized housing.

22 comments:

Teri said...

What a lovely and interesting town Suki. Thanks for the tour.

Annie said...

Loved the old buildings, wish we had pictures of the art, I bet they would love it if you asked
for photos :-).

studio lolo said...

Great shots of the falls Suki!

One of my favorite things to do is go on studio tours. It always inspires me either creatively, or just to change my work space and make it better.

A little mustard goes a long way ;)

blue note said...

so glad you like our little village. thanks for stopping by.

human being said...

i can see just the first two pictures... beautiful place!
that must have been a pleasant tour...

have a nice time

Laura Doyle said...

Seems from your description and photos to be rich in creative energies as well as beautiful and historical. Lovely. : )

sukipoet said...

teric, it is an interesting town in a way though i've always sort of overlooked it before living nearby for a year.

annie, i tend to just forget abotu taking pictures when i am looking at stuff.

Lolo, there are lots of studio tours around here and i do enjoy them.

blue note who are you?

sukipoet said...

hb, well glad two pictures came through. take care, suki

starlene, i think once some artist moved in to the area the town has perked up a bit.

Tess Kincaid said...

What a nice day! Love that blue door.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Sounds like you had fun touring. Wonder if the quote from you will be in the paper? How cool. You're getting used to being there and going places now.

blue note said...

Ray Massucco/blue note. Local lawyer,music promoter,festival producer and arts supporter.

Lynn Cohen said...

I enjoyed this little trip with you. Glad YOU got to see the art and fun hearing about it from you.
Lovely photos all.

soulbrush said...

this is so quaint, and artistic in its own way. enjoyable. what a peaceful place to live. gosh, dunno if i could manage.

Katiejane said...

Oh, wouldn't it be fun to live in an artist's studio? My dream. I would love loft living. These old buildings are such charmers. Sounds like a fun day.

sukipoet said...

willow, i was taken with that door too and the pile of kids bikes on the ground.

cris, i never read the paper so i won't know. i should have asked the guy when the article would appear.

oh hi Ray. thanks for stopping by again. interesting all you do in/for the arts. maybe you have a hand in the Roots on the River Festival? havent' been yet but I know it is a big thing around here.

sukipoet said...

lynn, thanks. i love looking at art and tootling around.

Soulbrush, you might be in shock up here all the time. for one thing, so little traffic, so few people. so many trees.

Katie Jane, actually there is a loft for sale in Brattleboro, 1900 square feet. I think it was the third and top floor. fun but not such a great place for the cats methinks. when younger i might have liked a loft, not sure that's true now.

blue note said...

suki,
actually, i produce the roots on the river festival. you should check us out this year. you can contact me offlist at ray@vermontfestivalsllc.com
thanks.
ray

sukipoet said...

Ray, wow that's great. I should have picked up the roots brochure which i saw y'day at the bank. thanks for the email, though i'm not a big emailer.

blue note said...

suki,
have we met?
ray

sukipoet said...

Ray, I dont believe we have met. I am a nutsy 63 yo white haired bohemian type of person. I don't know many folks up here. Have spent the last year plus taking care of aging Mom who died in December. Also, SIL who died in August. Now am trying to find a home.

blue note said...

and i would be the 61 year old white-haired lawyer/promoter whose family came here to settle the town in 1752. i'm either related to [between mother and father, they had 17 siblings] everyone in town, i've represented them or i've sued them. in some cases, all three. when we do cross paths, i can tell you why this is a pretty good place to live.

San said...

I enjoyed sharing your day and the sights you saw.

Apparently, you've taken down the post you mentioned in a subsequent post, the one for which you received a lot of support. It's just as well. Since you had such an outpouring of well-wishing, I'm sure my drop would not have added much. I'm glad you're feeling better about things, Suki.